Job gains not easing fears

Experts expect sequester-induced slowdown midyear

12:59 AM,
May 8, 2013

Written by

Tim Mullaney and Barbara Hansen
| USA Today

Friday's upbeat jobs report changed few experts' minds about the likelihood of an economic slowdown in mid-2013, according to a USA Today survey of economists.

Only four of 37 economists surveyed say the jobs report reduced their fears that growth will suffer a sharp slowdown in the second and third quarters this year. More than half say that hadn't been a concern of theirs before the report.

The Labor Department said the economy added 165,000 jobs in April, after an initial report for March estimated only 88,000. The March number was also revised up last week to 138,000. ...